Winding apparatus

ABSTRACT

A winding machine, such as UNIFIL loom winder, manufactured by Leesona Corporation, Warwick, Rhode Island 02887, has a spindle assembly for receiving and rotating a bobbin, and a transversing assembly including a transversing member releasably threadedly secured to a traverse rod, during winding, for guiding a strand of yarn being wound onto a bobbin. Upon completion of winding of a bobbin, the spindle assembly is stopped and the transversing member is released from the traverse rod and is returned to its starting point as the yarn is cut between the traversing member and the doffed, filled bobbin and is engaged for winding onto an empty bobbin previously donned onto the winder. The traversing and spindle assemblies are driven by mechanism within a casing of the winder. This mechanism includes a continuously driven drive shaft releasably connected by a clutch with a spindle shaft. A power take-off including a worm on the spindle shaft drives cam rotatably received on the spindle shaft for rotating and reciprocating the threaded traverse rod to provide the traversing member with builder and reciprocating motions. The cams and worm are effectively held against axial movement along the spindle shaft by a rigid member in abutting relationship with an end of the cams and adjustably fixed to the casing, and a noise deadening member mounted on the rigid member and holding the worm. When the traversing member has been returned to its starting position, the clutch again drivingly engages the drive shaft and spindle shaft whereupon the cycle is repeated.

United States Patent Morton [151 3,656,698 [451 Apr. 18,1972

[54] WINDING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Robert E. Morton, Warwick, R.l. [73] Assignee: Leesona Corporation, Warwick, R.l. [22] Filed: Oct. 30, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 85,412

Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Assistant Examiner-Milton Gerstein Attorney-Albert P. Davis and Burnett W. Norton [5 7] ABSTRACT A winding machine, such as UNIFIL loom winder, manufactured by Leesona Corporation, Warwick, Rhode Island 02887, has a spindle assembly for receiving and rotating a bobbin, and a transversing assembly including a transversing member releasably threadedly secured to a traverse rod, during winding, for guiding'a strand of yarn being wound onto a bobbin. Upon completion of winding ofa bobbin, the spindle assembly is stopped and the transversing member is released from the traverse rod and is returned to its starting point as the yarn is cut between the traversing member and the doffed, filled bobbin and is engaged for winding onto an empty bobbin previously donned onto the winder. The traversing and spindle assemblies are driven by mechanism within a casing of the winder. This mechanism includes a continuously driven drive shaft releasably connected by a clutch with a spindle shaft. A power take-ofi including a wonn on the spindle shaft drives cam rotatably received on the spindle shaft for rotating and reciprocating the threaded traverse rod to provide the traversing member with builder and reciprocating motions. The cams and won-n are effectively held against axial movement along the spindle shaft'by a rigid member in abutting relationship with an end of the cams and adjustably fixed to the casing, and a noise deadening member mounted on the rigid member and holding the worm. When the traversing member has been returned to its starting position, the clutch again drivingly engages the drive shaft and spindle shaft whereupon the cycle is repeated.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEmPmalerz 3,656,698

v sum 10F 3 (i, I -o g In r I INVENTOR. ROBERT MORTON BY ATTORN EYS PATENTEDAPR 18 m2 SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTOR ROBERT E. MORTON\ BMW flfl I; /7 /W ATTORNEYS WINDINGAPPARATUS PRIOR ART AND REFERENCE MATERIAL The following Leesona Corporation patents and patent application are incorporated by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 2,614,771, dated Oct. 21,1952; U.S. Pat. No. 2,638,936, dated May-l9, 1953; U.S. Pat. 2,763,443, dated Sept. 18', l956; and U.S. Pat.'No. 2,785,704, dated Mar. 19, 1957; and U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 36,126, filed May 11, 1970. These patents and application pertain to the UNIFIL loom winders of which Model 790 and 791 are of particular interest.

The operation of the UNlFIL loom winders is well understood in the art and is described in the reference patents. The entire operation is automatic. Empty bobbins are fed from a bobbin supply hopper and are automatically donned in opposed rotatable chucks. The end of the yarn passes through a yarn guide of a traversing member and is automatically engaged for winding with the empty bobbin which is rotating during normal, winding, as the traversing member is reciprocated back and forth by a threaded traverserod to which it is releasably secured. At the end of winding, the traversing member is released from the threaded traverse rod, the filled bobbin is doffed, the supply yarn is cut, a new bobbin donned and the traversing member is'retumed to its starting position to repeat the cycle. Drive and'control mechanism within a casing of the winder includes a drive shaft which is continuously driven by a belt drive outside the casing. A clutch connects the drive shaft with a spindle shaft which carries oneof the bobbin receiving chucks. A power take-off from the spindle shaft drives cams rotatably received on the spindle shaft for reciprocating and rotating the threaded traverse rod to provide a to and fro motion, and a builder motion to the traversing member. At the end of winding, mechanism outside of the casing is actuated by the traversing member to rotate a track rod and initiate release of a'rectangular rod which rotates to open the jaws of the traversing member. Such rotation of the track rod actuates a cycling mechanism driven by the drive shaft within the casing, and actuates mechanismfor releasing the clutch between thedrive shaft and the spindle shaft, and initiates bobbin doffing and donning operation. A driver rack is driven by the cycling mechanism and operates a retriever for returning the traversing member to its starting position, and operates a cutter for cutting the supply end of the yarn extending to the doffed bobbin. When the traversing member has been returned to its starting position, the driver rack actuates mechanism to release the jaw operating rod for return to its initial position, permitting the jaws to close on the traverse rod, and the clutch to again drivingly engage the drive shaft and spindle shaft whereupon the cycle is repeated.

The patent application is directed to a UNIFIL loom winder which may be operated at relative high winding speeds, for example 12,500 rpm, or more. In one embodiment, releasable jaws of the traversing member are held in fixed relationship with each other and are positively threadedly mated with threads of the traverse rod during winding of the bobbin, and a linkage mechanism is actuated by the traversing member, at the termination of winding, to rotate a non-circular bar extending between the jaws and release the jaws from the traverse rod.

The invention is, in brief, directed to a loom winder having a guide for traversing a strand onto a rotating bobbin. The guide is reciprocated through a follower driven by a rotary cam which is driven by a gear train having a driver coaxial with the cam. Axial movement of the cam and the driver is effectively drawings and in some instances no mention will be made of prevented, in at least'one direction, by a retainer-assembly including a first unit adjustably fixed in position'and in abutting relationship 'with an end of the cam, and a second unit mounted on the first unit and retaining the driver. The first unit is preferably a rigid metal member. The second unit is preferably apnoise. deadening material and is operatively secured to the first unit for deadening noise resulting from engagement of the end of the cam with the first unit.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved winder.

Another object is provision of a new and improved high speed automatic winder.

Still another object is provision of new and improved apparatusfor winding a bobbinwith a strand traversed onto the bobbin by a' traversing guide which is reciprocated by mechanism including a rotary cam and a reciprocating follower, the cambeingdriven-t'hrough a gear train including a driver, with the cam and driver retained against any substantial axial movement.

traversing the strand to and fro as it is wound onto the bobbin,

provision for operating the spindle assembly and the traversing assembly and including a rotary shaft for operating the spindle assembly; a rotary cam on the shaft, and provision for connecting'the cam and the guide for reciprocating the guide to traverse the strand and responsive thereto the cam being urged axially generally along its rotational axis, a drive member on the-shaft for rotating the cam, and during operation the drive member being urged axially generally along its rotational axis, and a'retaining assembly substantially operatively fixed relative to the base and retaining the cam andthe drive member against substantial axial movement in at least one direction. Related objects include: the retaining assembly having afirst unit holding the cam against such axial movement, and a second unit mounted on the first unit and holding the drive member against such axial movement; the units being positioned between thecam and the drive member;

- ship with an end of the cam,-the drive member having an annular flange and the second unit having a groove receiving the flange on the first unit and another groove receiving the annular flange to hold'the drive member againstsuch axial movement; and the second unit being of a noise deadening material for dampening sound resulting from engagement from the cam and the first unit.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of apparatus illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus being shown during an intermediate stage while winding a bobbin, with parts omitted, or broken away and removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, with parts omitted, or broken away and removed for clearer illustration; 7 FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, schematic view, generally in elevation, of another portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, with certain parts in other than their normal relative position and other parts omitted, or broken away and removed, for clearer illustration;

H0. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, schematic top view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, with parts broken away and removed for clearer illustration; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of certain of the parts shown in FIG. 4.

Various parts of the winder have been omitted in the such omitted parts because they are well known from the reference material and are not directly concerned with the operation of the portion of the apparatus to be described.

Referring generally to FIGSJ and 2 of the drawings, and as 14 are rigidly connectedby suitable structural members, as

16. Bobbin donning apparatus (not shown) receives an empty bobbin from a hopper(not shown) and positions the bobbin with its butt end 17 in an inboard'or drive chuck l8and its tip end 19 in an outboard chuck 20 of a spindle assembly 22 which, through the inboard chuck member 18, rotates the bobbin forwinding a strand of yarn 24 thereon. The drive chuck 18 is connected with a spindle shaft 30 (FIG. 3) within the casing 12 and-is driven by a suitable motor 32'mo unted on a removable cover 34 bolted to the casing 12. The tip end 19 of-the' bobbin core 28is freely rotatable with the outboard chuck 20 which isrotatably mounted on a shaft 38 mounted 'for axial sliding movement in the tail stock 14 and is operated by a rod (not shown) connected with mechanism within the casing 12 for movement between positions holding the core 28 (as shown), and for releasing a filled bobbin preparatory to receiving another empty bobbin core. A spring linkage (not shown) urges the outboard chuck 20 toward the drive chuck 18 to clamp the core 28 in winding position. As the strand of yarn 24 is wound onto a rotating bobbin, the yarn passes from a suitable source of supply (not shown) and through a yarn guide eye 40 of a traversing member 42 to build a bodyof yarn 44 on the core.

The traversing member 42 is mounted on a track rod 46 journaled at its opposite ends in the casing ,12 and in the tail stock 14. Also, the traversing member 42 is releasably secured, by means of upper and lower threaded jaws 48 and 50 (FIG. 2),,respectively, to a threaded traverse rod52 (FIG. 2) which is generally parallel to the track rod 46, and is telescopically journaled in the casing 12 and in the tail stock 14 for rotation and reciprocation. by the mechanisms within the casing 12. The guide eye 40 is in an arm 54 carried bythe upper jaw. 48.

I Rotation of the traverse rod 52 during building of the body ofyam 44 on the bobbin core 28 provides a builder motion by progressively threadedly moving the traversing member 42 from its starting point at the butt end 17 of the bobbin to a predetermined point proximate the tip end 19 of the bobbin. Reciprocating motion of the traverse rod 52 provides a back and forth traversing motion. J

As is more fully described in the reference patent application, the predetermined position at which building of the body of yarn 44 on the bobbin core 28 is terminated, is determined by an adjustable actuating mechanism 56 for initiating release of the traversing member jaws 48 and 50 from operative threaded engagement with the traverse rod 52, and for initiating operation of a cycling mechanism (not shown) within the casing 12. The actuating mechanism 56 includes an actuating unit 58'received on a fixed rod 60 for sliding movement as limited by a first abutment unit 62 adjustably mounted on the rod 60, and a second abutment unit ;64 (FIG, 2) adjustably mounted on the track rod 46. The actuating unit 58 is resiliently urged toward the first abutment unit 62 by a spring 66.

As the traversing member 42 moves to the predetermined position at which winding is to be terminated, it repeatedly engages the actuating unit 58 and causes it to move toward the tail stock 14. During such movement, the actuating mechanism releases the track rod 46 which then rotates to actuate the cycling mechanism (not shown) asa fixed abutment pin 68 on the track-rod 46 releases alatch mechanism 70 which in turn causes the traversing member jaws 48 and 50 to be released from the traverse rod 52. Concurrently, the actuating unit 58 ceases driven engagement with the traversing member 42 which continues to move toward the tail stock 14 as the actuating unit is stopped by the block 64.

The latch mechanism 70 includes a latch arm 72, fixed to and extending transversely from the end of a non-circular bar 74 (FIG. 2) and is urged upwardly by a tension spring 76 secured to the arm and to a fixed bracket 78 on the winder base 10. The arm 72 is releasably maintained in a latched position by a detent 80 pivoted on a bracket 82 fixed to the base 10- and urged into a latched position by a tension spring 84 connected to the detent 80 and to the bracket 82. The detent 80 has a nose 86 releasably latched with a cooperating nose 88 on the latch arm 72 during winding of thebobbin. An abut- I ment 90 on the detent 80 is engaged by the abutment pin 68 on the track rod 46 to release the latched engagement of the .detent 80 and the latch arm 72 so that the non-circular bar 74 is rotated tocam open the traversing member jaws 48 and'50 and to release them from threaded engagement with the traverserod52. v o i Resetting of the latch mechanism 70 is accomplished as a driver rack 92, mounted on rollers 94 (FIG.'1,only one visible) and driven through a pin and rod 96 by the jeycling mechanism (not shown) in the casing 12, moves outwardly in a direction past the tail stock 14 and engages a roller 98 on a crank 100 fixed on a shaft 102 journaled in the tail stock 14. A second crank 104 is also fixed on the shaft 102 and a link 106 is pivoted to the second crank 104 and to the latch arm 72 on the non-circular rod 74. Thus, the latch arm 72 and the noncircular rod 74 are rotated and the detent 80 moves into latched engagement with the latch arm 72.

With reference to FIG. 2, to .retum the traversing member 42 to its starting position proximate the casing 12,:a retriever 108 moves between the opened jaws 48, andv 50 of the I between thetraversing member guide eye .40 andthe bobbin by a cutter 112 which is mounted on a suitably mounted rack (not shown) anddriven through a gear train including a pinion 114 (FIG. 1) mated with the driver rack 92 to move the cutter l12frorn proximate the casing 12 toward the tail stock '14. A

scissor 116 on the leading end of the cutter 112 is cammed closed and severs the yarn. An empty bobbin core 28 is automatically donned and rotation of the drive chuck 22 is thereby started as the driver chuck 18 is telescoped inwardly of the casing 12 and the yarn is automatically engaged with the butt end of the bobbin core 28 to start the yarn winding onto the bobbin core. I y

. Outwardmovement of the driver rack. 92 is now reversed and it is moved toward the casing 12 by the cycling mechanism, thus causing the retriever 108 to be moved toward the tail stock 14 and the cutter 112 to be moved toward the casing 12 as the scissor is opened.

.With reference to FIG. 3', the operating mechanism-within the casing 12 includes a drive shaft 118 which extends through a rear end wall 120 of the casing 12 and carries abelt pulley. 121fwhich is drivingly connected by a belt 122 with a similar pulley (not shown) on the shaft of the motor 32 (FIG. 1). The drive shaft 118 is journaled in rotary ball bearings including a rearward bearing'126 seated in 'a bearing sleeve 128 of a bearing flange 129 secured to the end wall of the casing bybolts axially slidably journaled in a bearing 139 in a forward end 1 wall 140 of the casing 12 and is similarly journaled, within'a clutch 142, on the'dr'iveshaft 118, and is fixedly connected by a pin 143 (FIG. 4) with a male member of the clutch 142. The clutchl42 connects the drive shaft 118 and the spindle shaft 30 and this clutch is engaged by inward movement of the spindle shaft 30 responsive to operation of the cycling mechanism which in turn is operated by the track rod 46, as previously noted, and causes the outboard chuck 20 to move the bobbin and spindle shaft 30 rearwardly. With the clutch 142 engaged during winding of a bobbin, a worm 144 is connected with the spindle shaft 30 by means of an axial key 145 (FIG. 4) for rotation with the spindle shaft 30 and axial movement of the spindle shaft through the worm. The worm 144 mates with a gear 146 to drive a change gear type of variable speed drive (not shown) which in turn drives an intennediate gear 150. The gear 150 drives a spiral gear 152 operatively fixed, by means of an integral sleeve 152A, to a first cam 153 rotatable on the spindle shaft 30 and having a continuous helical slot 154. The sleeve 152A is secured within the cam 153 by a jam fit. In FIG. 3 the following structure is displaced from its normal position relative to the spindle shaft 30 and cam 153 for clearer illustration, and is actually, generally behind the spindle shaft and cam. A follower 155 is received in the slot 154 and is on a block 156 suitably mounted for reciprocation generally in the direction of the axis of the traverse rod 52. The block 156 has a bore which rotatably receives the traverse rod between fixed shoulders 158 thereon for reciprocating the rod and providing the to and fro motion to the traversing member 42 (FIGS. 1 and 2). An oil slinger 160, which is partially submerged in a sump 162 in the bottom wall 138 of the casing 12, is driven by the gear 146 for lubricating the mechanism. A second cam 164 is operatively fixed to the first cam 153, and receives a roller 165 on a first end of a follower lever 166 which is pivoted, intermediate its ends, to the casing 12 by means of a pin 168, to drive a one way-clutch 170 having a housing 172 fixed to the casing 12. The one way clutch has an actuating arm 174 with an elongated slot (not shown) receiving a pin 178, fixed to a second end of the follower lever 166, so that as the clutch is oscillated, a gear 180, suitably connected with the arm, is rotated, in only one direction. The gear 180 is mated with a gear 182 having a hub 184 formed with a flat telescopically receiving a complementary fiat 186 on the end of the traverse rod 52, to thereby rotate the rod and provide the previously noted builder motion. The cyclingmechanism is driven, during doffing and donning operation, by a gear train'including a gear 188 meshed with a worm 189 fixed to the drive shaft 118.

During operation of the loom winder, the cam 153 is urged axially of the spindle shaft as it reciprocates its follower 155. Such axial movement of the cam 153 is carried to an end thereof, and more particularly to the end face of the spiral gear 152. To retain the cam against substantial axial movement toward the left (FIGS. 3 and 4), an end in the form of a reduced cylindrical portion 190 of the spiral gear l52 is in abutting relationship with a flange 192 of a first unit or member 194 of a retaining assembly 196. The flange 192 has a hole 197 (FIG. 5) freely receiving the spindle shaft 30. The first member 194 has a second flange 198 fixedly secured relative to a base provided by the casing. More particularly, the second flange 198 is secured to a pedestal support 200 which is fixedly secured in any suitable manner, as by a bolt 202, to the bottom wall 138 of the casing 12. To hold the first member 194 against twisting, a pair of pins 204 are fixed to the pedestal support 200 and snugly extend through elongated slots 206 in the second flange 198, with a bolt 208 passing through an elongated slot 210 in the second flange and threaded into the pedestal support 200 to fixedly secure the first unit 194 to the pedestal support 200 for adjustment of the retaining assembly axially of the spindle shaft 30.

The worm 144 is retained against axial movement by means of a second unit or member 210 detachably secured to the first flange 192 of the first member 194. More particularly, the second member 210 has a groove or slot 212 snugly and slidably received on the first flange 192, and a second groove or slot 214 which receives an annular flange 216 integral with the worm 144, for effectively restraining the worm against movement relative to'the casing 12 in the direction of the axis of the spindle shaft 30.

e second unit 210 IS preferably formed of a noise deadening material, such as nylon, or the like, to deaden noise from engagement of the cylindrical portion with the first flange 192 ofthe first unit 194.

While this invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment in a particular environment, various changes may be apparent to one skilled in the art and the invention is therefore not to be limited to such embodiment or environment except as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for winding a strand onto a bobbin, comprising a base, spindle means mounted on said base and operable for rotating the bobbin during winding thereof, traversing means mounted on said base and including a guide for receiving the strand and traversing the strand to and fro as it is wound onto the bobbin, means for operating said spindle means and said traversing means and including rotary shaft means for operating said spindle means, a rotary cam on said shaft means, and means connecting said cam and said guide for reciprocating the guide to traverse the strand onto the rotating bobbin and responsive thereto said cam being urged axially generally along its rotational axis, drive means on said shaft means and during operation said drive means being urged axially along its rotational axis, and retaining means substantially operatively fixed relative to said base and retaining said cam and said drive means against substantial axial movement in at least one direction.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said retaining means includes first means holding said cam against said axial movement, and second means mounted on said first means and holding said drive means against said axial movement.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said shaft means includes a rotary shaft connected with said spindle means for rotating the bobbin, said cam is mounted on said shaft for rotation thereabout, and said drive means is mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, and said first means is between said cam and said drive means.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said shaft is mounted for axial movement relative to said base, said first means is mounted on said base in abutting relationship with said cam, said drive means has a generally coaxial annular flange, and said second means has a groove receiving said annular flange to hold said drive means against said axial movement.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in-which said first means includes a flange in said abutting relationship with said cam, said shaft extending through said flange, and said second means has a second groove receiving the last said flange and attaching the second means to the flange.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said second means is a material which dampens sound.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said drive means is a worm, said first means is adjustably axially of said shaft, and the grooves of said second means are generally U- shaped.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which said second means is nylon and said flange is relatively rigid metal. 

1. Apparatus for winding a strand onto a bobbin, comprising a base, spindle means mounted on said base and operable for rotating the bobbin during winding thereof, traversing means mounted on said base and including a guide for receiving the strand and traversing the strand to anD fro as it is wound onto the bobbin, means for operating said spindle means and said traversing means and including rotary shaft means for operating said spindle means, a rotary cam on said shaft means, and means connecting said cam and said guide for reciprocating the guide to traverse the strand onto the rotating bobbin and responsive thereto said cam being urged axially generally along its rotational axis, drive means on said shaft means and during operation said drive means being urged axially along its rotational axis, and retaining means substantially operatively fixed relative to said base and retaining said cam and said drive means against substantial axial movement in at least one direction.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said retaining means includes first means holding said cam against said axial movement, and second means mounted on said first means and holding said drive means against said axial movement.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said shaft means includes a rotary shaft connected with said spindle means for rotating the bobbin, said cam is mounted on said shaft for rotation thereabout, and said drive means is mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, and said first means is between said cam and said drive means.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said shaft is mounted for axial movement relative to said base, said first means is mounted on said base in abutting relationship with said cam, said drive means has a generally coaxial annular flange, and said second means has a groove receiving said annular flange to hold said drive means against said axial movement.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which said first means includes a flange in said abutting relationship with said cam, said shaft extending through said flange, and said second means has a second groove receiving the last said flange and attaching the second means to the flange.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said second means is a material which dampens sound.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said drive means is a worm, said first means is adjustably axially of said shaft, and the grooves of said second means are generally U-shaped.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which said second means is nylon and said flange is relatively rigid metal. 